The Marasai dodged Rusty’s fire and then continued shifting quickly around avoiding the fire of other suits, but that, and the rest of the action around him, went unnoticed by Rusty. He saw a Titan suit and was determined to destroy it. The Marasai made a turn away from the combat zone and Rusty lined up a shot when, for the first time since getting close to the combat zone, a friendly voice came through loud and fairly clear.

“This is Jules Parenthal to any Zeon forces who can hear me! Retreat flares from the-“

“What?! Withdraw?!” Rusty screamed and slammed on the reverse thrusters, bringing his Gaza-C to a halt and ignoring the rest of Parenthal’s rambling message.

Fields took a moment longer to break, shifting in close to his team leader to allow for skin talk. “Sir, we’ve taken a beating, and there have been some explosions back there…” Fields reported, having noticed the flashes coming from the Axis ships.

Orion froze, the idea of the ships being hit baffling him. “Th-that can’t be right…” He stammered, turning his Gaza-C, noticing some distant flashes, but nothing that looked like ships exploding, or what Rusty assumed that would look like at distance.

Both pilots were shocked when alarms alerted them of incoming fire from the retreating Titan teams, and both made the same mistake of trying to turn and spot the shots rather than simply avoid them. A pair of shots hit Rusty’s Gaza-C, which almost instantly exploded into a fireball that briefly engulfed Field’s machine as well before sending it spinning down and away from the combat zone, it’s pilot dead.

================================================================

-The Mandra-

In spite of the loss of the bridge tower, the Mandra was still combat capable, it was just a matter of shifting over control of the ship to the sub-bridge, and that took time. While that was going on, only the forward beam gun could really act, firing away as it watched the Kwire finally die, seeing a distant explosion but not knowing whether it was a kill or merely damage. There was at least one suit still out there, firing several beam shots at them, landing a pair of hits on the forward bulk of the ship, causing moderate damage but nothing fatal.

The crew had finally gotten the sub-bridge online just in time to detect the incoming 240mm shells, and attempt to avoid them. The ships engines flared to life, giving the ship a quick boost of speed and turning it slightly, but it was far too late. Both shells impacted almost the same spot on the narrow middle section of the Endra between the forward and rear bulks of the ship. The pair of explosions didn’t totally separate the two sections, but the damage was done as the ship lost all power and control, but held together and continued moving...

…Directly towards the similarly uncontrolled Mudra. A minute later, the forward bulk of the Mandra crashed into the remains of the Mudra’s bridge, prompting an unmistakable explosion that was visible across almost the entire Gryps 2 sector and left nothing behind but scattered chunks of metal.

Eddie watched as one of the Gaza-C’s managed to fire a spread of beams that exploded both of Marvin’s rockets well away from the Axis suits, and then turned its weapon toward them and fired a shot generally aimed at Eddie, who stomped on his thrusters and shifted back to his right, closer to Marvin and Sophie.

It was then that he saw the flash in the distance, and no more Axis ships were clearly visible. “F*** yeah!” Eddie laughed over the team channel, turning back toward the area where the Hamburg team and the Axis suits had been, noticing several of the Axis suits starting to pull back, and a series of recall flares from the direction of the 4th. “Okay folks, I think it’s almost time. Keep hittin’ those Axis bastards and once Bernie gets here let’s get those Hamburgers and get the hell outta here!” Eddie ordered, firing a pair of shots at one Gaza-C (Ball) who was firing at one of the nearby Nemos.

Bate smirked to himself as he finally saw the first suits starting to return to the fleet as his team of mobile suits continued cruising below Echo’s formation. They were down from five suits to three now. They had slowly started off toward the combat zone, only for Hicks to develop a fuel leak that rapidly emptied his propellant to the point that the already shaky pilot wasn’t sure he could make it back to the Kalinin, so Craig had gone along to help him get back, and predictably, hadn’t made a speedy return. With the fighting shifting around, Bate and shifted his team back toward the center of the Titan line when it appeared that the AEUG forces might be making a move, and then to their right flank when the situation with the Axis units appeared to flare up.

But after a while, with the fighting seemingly stabilized, he’d pulled his team back to their guard position under the fleet, not wanting to leave Echo without much mobile suit cover. Bate was well aware there were other units in the area, some guys from the 10th squadron and at least one or two suits from one of the Kirov teams, but he didn’t exactly trust any of them to do the right thing should the AEUG or Zekes get in close.

As they made another orbit close to the Kalinin, he spotted a Hizack leaving the ship, take far too long to locate them, and head his way. Bate brought his team to a halt as Craig’s machine floated up. “Sorry sir, they wanted to check over my machine and refuel it,” Craig mumbled quickly.

“Uh-huh. Just get in formation,” Bate sighed, not really believing Craig but not caring much either. The three suits that had been out the entire time were beginning to run low on fuel, but it wasn’t at a critical level yet, and Bate wanted to wait until it was clear the Titan teams weren’t being pursued...

Matthew looked at his rear view cam and saw Djorn being hassled by the AEUG. Even without a line of fire he quickly spins around and fires two shots from his knuckle buster before spinning back and continuing his return back to the Bindra. He figured if Djorn was any good as a pilot he would again avoid the shots.

- Axis Zeon Mudra Detachment Vicinity -
- Iota Team -

"That's it. We've done all we could. Return to the Kirov," Grant ordered his squad.

They had given Buxoro team enough time to withdrawal, he wasn't about to sacrifice any member of his unit for a straggler.

- Team 2 -

Bernard was returning back to the Hamburg team's area of operation, after his attack run on the Axis ships, when his targeting comp briefly locked on some fleeing Gazas. As soon as he attained another lock, he sent a few potshots at Djorn and opened up his missiles at the rest of the Gazas while he pulled out and ignited a saber.

His target was a lone Gaza that had it's back turned trying to back up it's own. As it turned back again, Bernard slashed it's arm off disarming the Gaza and immediately grabbed it by it's chest piece and was about to plunge the saber down the Gaza's throat when the auto vid feed of the other pilot came thru when his Dias made contact.
Bernard was fully prepared to see the pilot die, he had seen several deaths before, but he found himself frozen at this familiar face.

In Matthew's horror he had raised his arms to shield himself, but seeing that death did not quickly come he lowered his arms and stared at the pilot. Seeing this as a chance to escape, Matthew kicked the Dias away sending it spinning back with a piece of it's chest armor in it's hand.

"Can't be! Can't be!!!" Bernard screams as he tries to regain control of his spinning suit.

Confident he was free from any kind of disturbance, Heyden flipped his helmet's visor open and pulled a cigarette from his now scare looking cigarette package. His sneer grew larger then actually possible as he realized he had about four smokes left. F*ck He thought to himself as he lit the cigarette with his prestigious zippo.

Steadily falling back towards the fleet, Alex paused as he watched for the rest of his team. Forever crazy Orsino actually seemed to be falling back with him. It must've been one of those days. On the other hand....

"Dammit you guys, hurry up already!"

Marco was charging back in for Criss who had gotten herself shot by one of the Dias. And Alex without a beam rifle to provide meaningful cover.

"Back off will you, I didn't come to assist so you could rush at them again and get yourself killed, look! they've already launched their recall flares."

Derrick was about to protest when the female Nemo pilot separated the two of them by slashing at the Gaza-C, and firing off a volley of vulcan fire, which allowed him to confirm what she had said.

"Head back towards the Hamburg, with the Rick Dias'es helping out we've got this in the bag!"

Derrick sighed; on one hand, he would live. On another, he was slightly upset that he didn't get to smack some sense into that pompous Axis bastard. Still, he was alive, and that counted for something.

Saluting with his remaining arm, he retreated back towards the Hamburg in the direction indicated. He scanned the area, in the hopes that he would catch a glimpse of his squad mates, but no such luck. As he flew along, his mind drifted back to the Guangdong and its crew. He desperately hoped that they were all alright.

"When a man strays from the right path, a kind man must have the courage to raise his fist and correct them."
-Jamil Neate, After War Gundam X

Allister’s recall order made it through the Minovsky fog into Grace’s ears. As if to punctuate her team leader’s words, the dying Mandra smashed into the Mudra’s carcass, filling Grace’s panorama with a blinding explosion. Grace’s stomach lurched, and for a brief moment the reality of her situation, and the impossible likelihood of escaping this battle alive with Jason, passed through her thoughts. She hadn’t even noticed that her shots had killed their target.

But she pushed it aside to stay alive. Grace swerved her Marasai into a tight left to keep formation with Allister. She fired cover shots at the remaining Gaza-Cs.

((Couple shots in the general direction of Jules and Astor))

- Buxoro Team -

Elijah smirked as he realized the gap between his Marasai and that crazy guy’s Gaza-C had grown wide indeed. The Zeon ranks, decimated as they were, apparently weren’t inclined to pursue. Good choice, Zeke, Elijah thought, relaxing even as he was showered with the light of the exploding Mandra/Mudra crash. He brought his Marasai into loose formation with Iota Team, with Vlad sticking close and Tim and Tyler further off but clearly disentangled from the Zeon MS, and noted that his own team had made it through without any losses, wiping out a cruiser in the process. All in all a solid day of work.

In a spirit of brotherhood across teams, Elijah slid into position to the right of Allister’s Marasai and initiated skintalk by pressing his own suit’s left hand against the right leg of Allister’s machine.

Horror covered Jules's face as he watched the Mandra disappear in a flash of light that made his eyes water. I was too late, he thought grimly, keeping his sights on the retreating enemy MS, anger slowly rising.

He calmed himself enough to swerve away from the MS's beam fire, deciding to act against his emotions. The enemy was falling back, and Zeon had taken heavy losses. There was no need for Jules to get himself killed in the name of petty vengeance.

But what are we supposed to do now? he thought morosely, realizing that there were probably no Axis ships left, and that he and the Zeon survivors might be stranded. What do I do?

Confirmation streamed into the Trammel’s bridge that the huge explosion further ahead signalled the end of the Mudra and Mandra. With no change in tone, M’Quve simply said, “Have any remaining mobile suits from the Mudra or Mandra land on the Bindra. Continue withdrawal as planned otherwise.”

* * *

- Axis Zeon Mudra Detachment Vicinity -- Bindra Team -

Ball snarled as the situation went nowhere. Matt, Djorn, and Nikolai were still entangled with the enemy and made no hint that they were even trying to withdraw. Rookie blinders.

“Pris, Renard, go on ahead to the Bindra. I’ll catch up.”

Ball’s Gaza-C moved back toward the combat area it had just left, the veteran pilot disregarding the large explosion of the Mandra and Mudra dying to his far left. He saw a Rick Dias disengage a badly maimed Gaza-C and then fly off without finishing the job. Good riddance, thought Ball. No time to getting mixed up with those Dias types.

The left hand on Ball’s suit pressed against the back of the armless machine. Matt Korbel’s face appeared on Ball’s monitor. “Matt, fall back to the Bindra with Pris and Renard. You took some nasty hits but this Gaza should hold up long enough. Go.”

Without giving a chance for a response, Ball pushed away, toward Djorn and Nikolai. It appeared they were still dancing with Nemos.

“Both of you!” some frustration creeped into Ball’s voice despite himself, “We’re withdrawing now!” He punctuated the last few syllables by firing his knuckle buster in the general direction of Hamburg Team to break up the situation the teams were in.

- Peoron Team -

Astor Grange’s Gaza-C simply didn’t respond to his commands as smoothly as it used to, not after taking a few 120mm machine gun rounds in the back from passing Hizacks. The suit still held together, at least. It simply could not transform into mobile armor mode.

The sluggish thing coasted toward Jules Parenthal’s stopped Gaza.

“Lieutenant,” he called out, “What are we sitting around for? Where’s Brutus?”

“Lieutenant,” a voice called out, “What are we sitting around for? Where’s Brutus?”

Jules was taken back into reality, realizing that it was the voice of his team mate, Astor Grange. He activated the comm.

"I don't know" was all he could muster at first, giving himself a few seconds to think over what to say. "Brutus may be dead. He was charging straight at the enemy last I saw him. Our ship is gone. I failed again."

Jules wasn't entirely sure why he said the last part, and severely hoped that Minovsky interference would drown it out. "Astor...where is everyone headed?"

The lone survivor questioned himself several times over about his command decisions in the battle. Stunned by the loss of the transport ship and his team, his Gaza floated silently in the black void. Ltjg. Emmers finally shook off his fear when a garbled transmission came in with coordinates to the Bindra.
Setting course the Gaza comes alive and rockets to the Endra-class vessel.

- Axis Zeon Trammel Fleet -
- Endra-class Bindra -
- Hanger -

CPO Shelia Northran was up to her elbows in tools, trying to get things ready for a massive repair job. She had just received word about the Gaza squad returning plus surviving Gazas that have lost their ships were being redirected here. It was gonna get real hectic for a few hours especially since they didn't have enough mechanics to service all suits.

"Clear all bays! I want teams working on Gazas that need quick patch up jobs first. The rest can wait. Get the pilots to assist if needed," Sheila barked as she quickly took command.

* * * * *

- Axis Zeon Mudra Detachment Vicinity -
- Iota Team -

Allister's slight smile revealed that he was pleased with today's outcome. His team was in one piece and there was a ship to go back to.
A brief blip of the proximity alarm made him check his monitor to see a Marasai attempting to make skin-talk.

“Good shooting out there, pal. Looks like you Kirov boys can cut it.”

"If only the rest of the fleet had it this easy," Grant replied in a somber tone.

Orsino drudged back to the ship, feeling himself calm down once again.

Meanwhile, Criss recoiled in shock from the direct hit, barely able to check to make sure she was still alive. "Criss?"

She couldn't identify the voice outright, but it helped her out of the daze.

"Criss!" It was Marco. "Come on, we've got to get back to the ship!"

"Roger that..." she said weakly as she regained her bearings. Marco rushed over to grab her, beam shots singeing his hizack. Finding his own resolve, Marco helped push the damaged machine in the direction of the ship, until Criss could reactivate her thrusters and move under her own power. Marco cursed himself for not being more careful in the rescue- Orsino was sure to comment on his selflessness.

Mandra Team

The beam shots had marred Brutus's Gaza, leaving it drifting through space, presumed to be dead. In reality, his face was bright red, a shade that Char Aznable would have died for. "YOU FOOLS! COME TO ME! GET ME BACK TO THE SHIP! INCOMPETENT COWARDLY SWINE! GET ME BACK TO THE SHIP BEFORE I HAVE YOU ALL SHOT! ON THE DOUBLE YOU BABOONS!" His yelling into the mic was his only hope to get back alive.

Hamburg Team

"Alright everyone, good work, now let's fall back to the ship!" Kou fired off his own retreat flares, and turned his Nemo to go to the Hamburg.

“Let’s just get this over with,” Irene said rather faintly to Wales nearby. The adrenaline rush was almost gone and with it came fatigue all over her body. “Let the Nemo team passed us first and we’ll catch up behind. Check your weapons. Supposedly there’s suicidal Titans lurking around, and I don’t want them to score easily on us.”

Just when things seem to be wrapping up nicely, two Rick Dias approaching. One was Trask’s while another being towed by the first was Curren’s. The latter looked dead wrong to her even before the optical zoom being feed on-screen showing the critical damage done to her CO’s MS head.

“Lt. Trask, tell me this isn’t happening?” Irene asked or rather simply just voicing her protest over cruel fate. The thought that another of her CO expired made her stomach uneasy. Lt. Wes Curren just became her sixth after Lt Emington a mere two weeks ago.

trask nodded in reply, and was about to say something before mart cut him off with a resigned curse, he didn't even have to look to know what Mart was referring to.

"at least the majority of your team made it out intact, his sacrifice wasn't in vain" inwardly Trask cringed at his use of such a cliched line, and wasn't sure whether he was trying to reassure Mart or himself.

"I'll let Sumitani know that team 3 will take up an overwatch position while the rest of your team withdraws back to the New Yark" on that note he broke contact with the nemo cannon and reunited with the remaining two rick dias'es in his squad.

“Lt. Trask, tell me this isn’t happening?” came the rhetorical question from Irene as he glided the kanone dias to a halt

"don't dwell on it..." he told her, doing his best to keep calm "everything alright over h-"

"uughh, your a damn jinx Trask" interrupted wales in a slurred murmur, that appeared to be the magic phrase as the XO of team 3 felt his composure evaporate in a heartbeat.

"this isn't the time! you think this is all a damn joke?!" he snapped back in frustration, he was about to go on a rant when the ensign's mobile suddenly lurched to one side, on closer examination trask saw the damage that was uncomfortably close to the cockpit, and promptly placed his suits' free hand on the shoulder of the other suit.
"oh crap" he exclaimed as he was greeted to the image of shrapnel and a heavily bleeding pilot who was barely concious.

"Kawamura, drag his and Wes's Rick Dias back to the Dervish, Now! I'll stay here and maintain overwatch."

-Hamburg team-

"finally! someone with an ounce of common sense" Paris remarked to herself as Derrick fell back, it made a nice change of pace compared to kite, keeping the pressure on djorn, paris did a 360 degree loop around djorn's Gaza-C, slashing at it with one beam sabre and stabbing with the other, before she could attack a third time the warning indicator came to life, alerting her to incoming fire from two other Axis mobile suits

"don't these guys care if they hit their team mates or not?" she asked herself as she banked hard in order to evade, losing the right arm at the elbow in the process to one of the beams, and backed off slightly, maintaining a certain distance bewteen the Hamburg and the enemy squad while keeping her guard up.

keeping an eye on the gaza's in case they wanted to continue their attack, paris was trying to figure out the best time to disengage, Uraki and kite had already begun moving towards the ship but Al hadn't, and the thought of abandoning him (or indeed any of the team) didn't sit well with her.